Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China and the starting point of your trip. After landing, proceed to your city-center hotel by your own arrangement, keeping the arrival transfer flexible and independent.

Once you have checked in, the rest of the day is yours to recover from the flight or explore the surrounding area at your own pace. Use this first day to settle in before the guided sightseeing begins.

Beijing has been one of China’s major political and cultural centers for centuries, with imperial history shaping much of the city’s identity.

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Sunworld Hotel or similar (4-star)

Begin the morning at Tiananmen Square, surrounded by major civic landmarks in central Beijing. From there, continue to the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties, where vast courtyards, ornate roofs, and detailed decorations reflect its long role as a royal residence.

In the afternoon, follow your guide into Beijing’s hutong area. Walk through narrow lanes and visit traditional siheyuan courtyard homes once connected to historical figures. Later, enjoy a short Peking Opera performance with a local drink before the day’s sightseeing concludes.

The Forbidden City served as China’s imperial palace for nearly 500 years, from the Ming Dynasty through the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Sunworld Hotel or similar (4-star)

After breakfast, drive approximately two hours from Beijing to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. Take a cable car up to the wall, then continue with your guide along restored stone pathways that lead past watchtowers and sections overlooking the surrounding hills.

In the afternoon, return to Beijing and make a brief photo stop outside the Bird’s Nest Stadium and Water Cube. Afterward, visit a nearby pearl store before heading back, keeping the day focused on the Great Wall excursion and key exterior city landmarks.

Mutianyu is known for its restored Great Wall section, with watchtowers positioned along the ridgeline to support defense and visibility.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Sunworld Hotel or similar (4-star)

Begin the morning in a busy Beijing market, where food stalls fill the air with steam and streets are lined with seasonal produce. This gives you a simple look at how locals start the day, with plenty of options for a traditional breakfast along the way.

Continue to the Temple of Heaven, a UNESCO World Heritage site originally built for imperial ceremonies during the Ming Dynasty. Today, it functions as a public park where locals gather for morning exercises such as tai chi and sword dancing. Later, transfer to the railway station and board a high-speed train to Xi’an, where your local guide meets you on arrival.

The Temple of Heaven was designed according to traditional Chinese cosmological ideas, with its layout reflecting the relationship between heaven and earth.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Eastern House Boutique Hotel or similar (4-star)

Travel outside Xi’an today to visit the Terracotta Warriors site. Follow your guide through the excavation halls, where thousands of life-sized figures stand in formation, each shaped with distinct facial expressions and details that reflect Qin Dynasty craftsmanship.

In the afternoon, return to the city and explore the Muslim Quarter. Walk streets filled with food stalls and small shops, where local snacks and grilled dishes show the area’s strong connection to northern Chinese street food culture.

The Terracotta Warriors were made for the burial complex of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Eastern House Boutique Hotel or similar (4-star)

After breakfast, board a high-speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu, a journey of around 4 hours. When you arrive, meet your local guide at the station and continue with the arranged transfer, keeping the day’s main logistics simple and direct.

The rest of the day is free at leisure. You may choose to visit Kuanzhai Alley or Jinli Ancient Street, both known for traditional architecture and local food stalls, offering a relaxed introduction to Chengdu’s atmosphere.

Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province, a region widely associated with distinctive local cuisine and urban teahouse culture.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Dorsett Chengdu or similar (4-star)

Start the morning at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. Visiting in the early hours gives you a better chance to see pandas during their most active period, including feeding and movement within the enclosures.

At midday, enjoy a traditional Sichuan hotpot meal, known for bold and spicy flavors. In the afternoon, return to the city and visit Wenshu Monastery, with its quiet courtyards and traditional architecture. You may also sit down for tea in a local teahouse and observe daily life at a relaxed pace.

Sichuan hotpot is closely associated with the region’s use of chili and Sichuan peppercorn, which create its signature heat and numbing sensation.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Dorsett Chengdu or similar (4-star)

Spend the morning at leisure in Chengdu, with time left open before your onward travel. Later, meet your guide for the transfer to the airport, where you board your flight from Chengdu to Shanghai.

On arrival in Shanghai, your local guide meets you and accompanies you on the arranged transfer. The rest of the day is free, giving you time to rest after the flight or explore independently at your own pace.

Shanghai is one of China’s four municipalities administered directly by the central government, along with Beijing, Tianjin, and Chongqing.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Central Hotel Shanghai or similar (4-star)

Start the day at the Bund, where historic waterfront buildings line one side of the river and the Pudong skyline rises on the opposite bank. This contrast gives you a clear visual record of Shanghai’s development before you continue to Yu Garden, a Ming Dynasty classical garden with pavilions, ponds, and rock formations arranged in a compact traditional layout.

After Yu Garden, make a short stop at a silk shop before visiting Fuxing Park, a public green space with French-style design where local residents gather for daily activities. Nearby, walk through Bugaoli’s residential lanes to see everyday neighborhood life in narrow streets and shared courtyards. In the afternoon, explore the Shanghai Museum, with collections of ancient Chinese bronzes, ceramics, calligraphy, and coins.

The Bund’s waterfront architecture reflects Shanghai’s history as a major treaty-port city during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

• 4-star Accommodation: Central Hotel Shanghai or similar (4-star)

Your journey in China comes to an end today. After breakfast, the day is free until your departure, giving you time to manage the final part of your trip at your own pace.

When it is time to leave, make your own way to the airport and board your flight home. No departure transfer is included, so the airport journey is arranged independently.

Shanghai is served by major international air connections, reflecting its role as one of China’s principal gateway cities.

Meals: Breakfast